RSPCA officers have condemned a sadistic attack on a pigeon in Coventry as one of the worst they have ever seen.

As reported in later editions of Saturday's Evening Telegraph, the bird was found speared on a balcony in Paradise Street, Cheylesmore, after being attacked with a nail gun. Three nails were fired into the pigeon's body, head and leg.

The RSPCA described the incident as a shocking example of animal cruelty at its worst.

RSPCA Inspector Rebecca Cooper was sickened by the attack.

She said: "I was appalled to find these nails had been deliberately shot into the bird, and that it was still alive.

"A nail gun is the type of tool which needs strength to operate, so I can only presume that it was an adult who carried out this appalling attack."

Despite being shot, the bird had managed to fly to the fourth-floor balcony where it was found by a resident. It had to be put down by the RSPCA.

Jo Cunningham, spokesman for the West Midlands branch of the RSPCA, said: "Sometimes we find animals with various things inserted into their body but never involving a nail gun.

"We believe it happened in the locality because the bird would probably not have been able to fly very far afterwards.

"It's one of the sickest attacks we've come across."

Anyone with information is urged to contact the RSPCA, in confidence, on 08705 555999.